Track switch symbol



Sept; 37- 'H. F. OBERGFELL 2,094,134

TRACK SWITCH SYMBOL Filed May 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HERBERT F. OBERGFELL ATTORNEY.

I P 3 H.IF. OBERGFELL 2,094,134

'TRAGK SWITCH SYMBOL Filed May 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4H FIG..4D4

- svllllmm 47 INVENTOR. HERBERT F. OBE RGFELL.

ATTORNEY.

mesa-a Sept. 2a, 1931 UNITED" STATES PATENT oFFicE Application May 20',1036, s mi No. sun

This invention relates in: general to animated dispatcher's displaypanels for use in centralized traflic controlling systems for railroads,but more particularly to a combined key and lamp signal 5 on such adisplay panel. This combined key and lamp signal is intendedfor use in acentralized traiiic controlling system for railroads such as shown anddescribed in the John Wicks application. Serial No.82,508, flied May 29,1936.

The object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedcombination key and lamp signal which is manually rotated by thedispatcher to either one of its twopositions and which is transparent soas to show different colors in ac- 1'5 cordance with the position of thedistanttrack switch it corresponds to.

One of the features relates to the'constniction of the combined key andlamp signal to enable easy assemblage and replacement of the parts.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription of the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a dispatchers animated display panel;

Fig. 2 shows the rotatable cam of the combined key and lamp signal;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the entire combined key and lamp signalassembled on the dispatcher's 'panel Figs. 4A to 4L, inclusive, show aportion ofthe detail parts of the combined key and lamp signal inpositions corresponding somewhat to their order of assemblage. These asa whole may be considered a sc-called exploded view of these detailparts.

Referring now to that portion of the dispatchers display panel shown inFig. 1, the diflerent colored lines thereon represent correspondingrailroad track sections associated with a distant nal and siding signalfor governing train traflic from left to right. The key-Q is providedfor controlling the distant track signals corresponding to the symbolsignals QMSL and ESL in the panel. 'IBL and SL are dispatcher's symbolsignals corresponding to the distant tracksignals for governing traintraiiic from right-to left. Keys I and I are provided for controllingthe dis- 55 taut track signals corresponding to the symbolsignals-Island tSL,.respectively. Key is a operation of the distanttrack switch.

Referring now tothe. details of this combined 25 taken combined key andlamp signal corresponding to a distant track switch. This combined keyand symbol is manually rotatable by the dispatcher to simulate thesiding" or main track" positions of the distant corresponding trackswitch. 5 The raised oblong transparent portion 88L provides the meansby which this symbol is manually rotated by the dispatcher. A green lamp0 and a' red lamp R are mounted directly behind the raised transparentportion tSL'to cause ISL 10 to be illuminated green or red dependent onwhether the green or the red lamp is illuminated. The green lamp G isilluminated in case the 'corresponding distant track switch .is in #maintrack position and the red lamp R is illuminated 16 in case the trackswitch is in its siding position.

In case the symbol 88L in the position shown in Fig, l glows red, thedispatcher knows that the corresponding distant track switch is in its"aiding" position and accordingly rotates ISL in the direction indicatedby the arrow to its siding position. The dispatcher also manuallyrotates ISL, whenever it is desired to remotely control the 1 key andlamp signal shown in-Figs. 4A,to 4L, inclusive, and in Figs. 2 and 3:

Fig. 4A shows a molded glass disc ll having a raised portion ISL on topand a ridge ll on the bottom parallel with 08L The iiat topsurface '9III is glazed black, as shown in Fig. l, raised portion 08L is notglazed but is left transparent. The disc ll fits into the flangedportion 42 of sleeve ll shown in Fig. 4B. The ridge ll of disc 30 fitsin the cut-out portion ll of the sleeve Ii and the pper edge of iiang'e4! is then spun over the edge of disc I. to lock the two together, asshown in Fig. 8. Due totheridge ll in the cut-out portion ll the sleeveII is rotatm able with the disc 30 and raised portion 881-.

This assemblage of disc 30 and sleeve, II is inserted from the front ofthe dispatcher's panel and is easily removable to permit changing oflamps in case one or both should burn out. 5 The elongated sleeve shownin Fig. 40 has a flange" which is mounted in a hole on the panel IIapproximately flush with the front surface of a the screws 0 extend tofasten the flanged collar M to sleeve it by meansof the threaded nutsll.

1 A projection or tongue 33' is cut in the side of sleeve 33 and bentinward so as to fit in groove 3| oi sleeve 3| when sleeve 3| is slidinto sleeve 33. 'The tongue 33' in groove 3 I permits longitudinalremoval and replacement of sleeve 3i but causes sleeve 33 to be rotatedwhenever sleeve 3! is rotated. I

The sleeve 33 is rotatable in the flanged collar 32 shown in Fig. 4D.Collar 32 has a flange d3 which fits against the back of panel 25 andhas holes 61 for fastening collar 32 to the panel 25 by means of screws29 as shown in Fig. 3. Projections 38 on'the lower portion of collar 32extend in the cut-out portions 80 of fibre cam 20 shown in Fig. 4E.Projections 48 in conjunction with the inwardly extending extensions 50of cam .provide stops for limiting the rotation of camf20 and also 85L.Fibre cam 20 is mounted on top of fiange 54 of the collar 34 by means ofthefiat- 20 headed screws 49 extending through the countersunk holes 5|of cam 20into the tapped holes'52 of flange 54. Cam 20 .has a projection29 for operating circuit closing springs I11 and depressions Y22 and ain which the roller detent 24-is 5 positioned when the combined key andlamp signal is in eitherone of its operated positions as, shown in Fig.'2. Cam 20 and collar 34 are now mounted on the bottom portion of sleeve33 which projects below collar 32 with the holes 53 and 53' Q inalinement. Screws 56 extending through holes 53 and 53' screw into thenuts 55 to securely fasten sleeve 33 and the collar 34 together. The cam20 and collar 34 rotate with sleeve 33 while the projections 48 onstationary collar 32 stop -,.turther rotation when such projections abutthe inward extensions .50 of cam 20. From the foregoing description itwill be en that the disc 30,-"sleeves 3i and 33, the ca 20 and thecollar 34 rotate as a unit in the collar 40 32 which is fastened to thepanel25 when the dispatcher grasps and rotates the raised transparentportion 881'.

\ Semi-circular clamps 35 and 59, shown in Figs.

4H and 4J, are clamped around the stationary col- 45 lar 32 and securedin place by machine screws (not shown) extending through holes 51 to thethreaded holes 58. Clamp 59.has downwardly extending arms 8! bent at 82to formbottom portions 33 and 64. Arms 6! 'have'side portions 5Q" bentat right angles thereto to stiffen or reinforce arms 6 i The bottomportionfi4 is provided with tapped holes 65 to permit'mounting of thelamp jack springs 23, 21, and 2Bfby means of screws 13 as shown in Fig.3..

.55 The brackets H and 10, shown in Figs. 4K and 4L, are mountedpnopposite sides of bottom portions 33B4 by means of machine screwsextending through holes 68 to tapped holesl3. Bracket 10 is providedwith tapped holes for mounting 60 circuit closing springs lll by meansof screws 11 I as shown in Fig. 3. In a similar manner bracket l l' isprovided with tapped holes 12 for mounting detent spring .23 by means ofscrews I5 as shown in Fig. 3. i

65 when the dispatcher desires tooperate the dis tanttrack signalcpl-responding to the combined keyand lamp signal, he will grasp theraised transparent portion BSLand rotate the same in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 1. The

70 raised transparent portion I 8L is moved into alinement with the'slanting siding line on the a. panel, the-springs I11 are'closed byprojection 2i and the roller detent 24 is in depression 25a. .Theclosure of springs I" close circuits to cause the 75 operation or thedistant track switch t KS S din said first sleeve and a tongue in saidsecond sleevefor permitting longitudinal separation of said sleeve andfor causing both sleeves to rotate together when said raised-transparentportion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve 70 ing" positionas described in the previously mentioned Wicks application. A

The circuits for illuminating the green and red ,lamps G and R in Fig. 3terminate on the lower ends of jack springs 26, 21, and 28. 5

lamps, the entire spring and bracket assembly is easily removable byremoving the clamps and 59, while the cam 20 and collar 34 may beremoved by removing the-screws 56 extending through holes 53 and 53 inthe collar 33 and sleeve 33. 5

Having described the invention and what is considered to be new and isdesired to be protected by Letters Patent will be set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1.- In a dispatchers animated-display board panel, a combined key andlamp signal, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel,rotatingmeans in said signal comprising a disc,

a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for se- 25 curelylocking saiddisc to said first sleeve, a raised transparent portion on said disc toenable manual rotation of said rotating means, a slot in said firstsleeve and a tongue in said second sleeve for permitting longitudinalsepa- 30 ration of said sleeves and for causing both sleeves to rotatetogether when said raised transparent portion is rotated, a cam mountedon said second sleeve and rotated therewith, circuit closing meanscontrolled by said cam, lamps for illumi- 35 nating said raisedtransparent portion, a clamp mounted on said collar, and lamp jacksprings mounted on said clampfor mounting said lamps. 2. In adispatchers animated display board panel, a combined key andlamp-signal, a flanged 40 collar for mounting said signal on said panel,

rotating means in said sig'nal comprising a disc,

a first sleeve and a second sleeve, means for securely locking said discto said first sleeve, a raised transparent portion on said disc toenable manual rotation of said rotating means, a

' said collar, and extensions 'on said cam cooperating with saidprojections to limit the extent of' manual rotation of said rotatingmeans.

' 3. In a dispatchers animated display boar panel, a. combined key andlamp signal, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel,rotating means in said signal comprising a disc, a first sleeve and asecond sleeve, means for seraised transparent portion on said disc toenable manual rotation of said rotating means, a slot.

and rotated therewith, circuit closing means conv trolled by saidcam,.'lamps for illuminating said clamp for mounting said lamps, and abracket mounted on said clamp for mounting said circuit closing means. I

d. In a dispatchers animated display board panel, a combined key andlamp signal, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel,

rotating means in said signal comprising adisc, a first sleeve and asecond sleeve, means for securely locking said disc to said firstsleeve, is

raised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation ofsaid rotating means, a slot in said first sleeve and a tongue in saidsecond sleeve for permitting longitudinal separation 0! said sleeves andfor causing both sleeves to rotate together when said'raised transparentportion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve and rotatedtherewith, circuit closing means controlled by said cam, depressions insaid cam, and a detent roller and spring assembly ior engaging saiddepressions to hold said rotat-' ing means in its last operatedposition.

5. In a dispatcbers animated display board panel, a combined key andlamp mu, a flanged collar for mounting said signal on said panel,

rotatingmeansinsaidsignalcompflflnsadisc, a first sleeve and a secondsleeve, means for secprely locking said disc to said first sleeve, araised transparent portion on said disc to enable manual rotation oisaid rotating means, a slot in said first sleeve and a tongue in saidsecond sleeve for permitting longitudinal separation 0! said sleeves andfor causing both sleeves to rotate 'togethervlhen said raisedtransparent portion is rotated, a cam mounted on said second sleeve androtated therewith, circuit closing means controlled by said cam,depressions in said sam, a detent roller and spring assembly forensasing said depression to hold said rotating means in its lastoperated position, and a bracket mounted on said clamp for mounting saiddetent spring.

